Blood pressure is essential for the arteries to carry blood throughout the body. It rises and falls throughout the day, depending on what activity you’re doing. However, persistently high blood pressure levels lead to hypertension, which increases the risk of having a heart attack and stroke.

Hypertension develops over time and usually has no symptoms, making it even more dangerous. Hypertension often occurs due to unhealthy lifestyle choices, diabetes, and obesity. When you have high blood pressure, your heart, kidneys, eyes, brain, and other organs are at risk of damage.

The positive side to this problem is that you can make changes in your life, to help control your blood pressure and maintain it at a normal level. Here are some steps to start doing that right now: Continue reading →

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammation of the lungs that makes it hard to breathe. It is usually caused by cigarette smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke, chemicals, fumes, and irritants. Asthma and genetics are also risk factors.

When you have COPD, you may experience shortness of breath, a chronic cough, wheezing, respiratory infections, chest tightness, phlegm, fatigue, and more. If it is not prevented or managed, COPD can lead to various health complications, such as heart disease and lung cancer.

COPD can be debilitating as it prevents you from doing things you would like to do in your life. Although you can’t cure it, there are ways to manage COPD symptoms with a few lifestyle changes. Here are some ways to do that. Continue reading →